Trump Launches Strikes on Yemen’s Houthis, 31 Dead

Trump Orders Major Strikes on Yemen’s Houthis, Death Toll Rises to 31

March 16, 2025

Washington/Aden, Yemen – U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a large-scale military operation against Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels following their sustained attacks on Red Sea shipping. The airstrikes, which began on Saturday, have killed at least 31 people and injured 101 others, according to the Houthi-run health ministry. The campaign is expected to continue for weeks and marks the most significant U.S. military action in the Middle East since Trump assumed office in January.

The operation underscores Washington’s efforts to curb Houthi aggression, which has disrupted global trade and prompted a costly U.S. naval response. The Houthis, who have taken control of much of Yemen in the past decade, have launched numerous strikes on commercial and military vessels since late 2023. They claim their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Gaza conflict.

Trump’s Warning to Iran

President Trump directly addressed Iran, the Houthis’ primary supporter, warning that Tehran must cease its backing of the group or face serious consequences.

“If Iran threatens the United States, America will hold you fully accountable, and we won’t be nice about it!” Trump declared. He also issued a stark warning to the Houthis via his Truth Social platform:

“To all Houthi terrorists, YOUR TIME IS UP, AND YOUR ATTACKS MUST STOP, STARTING TODAY. IF THEY DON’T, HELL WILL RAIN DOWN UPON YOU LIKE NOTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN BEFORE!”

Iran Responds to U.S. Offensive

In response, Hossein Salami, commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, dismissed Trump’s accusations, stating that the Houthis operate independently and make their own strategic decisions.

“We warn our enemies that Iran will respond decisively and destructively if they act on their threats,” Salami told state media.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes as a "gross violation of the United Nations Charter and fundamental principles of international law." Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi denounced the U.S. intervention, urging Washington to “end support for Israeli genocide and terrorism” and to “stop killing the Yemeni people.”

Intensified Airstrikes Across Yemen

The U.S. military’s Central Command confirmed that Saturday’s strikes were just the beginning of a broad operation targeting Houthi positions throughout Yemen. Airstrikes were carried out from the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman, stationed in the Red Sea.

Several key locations were hit, including a building in a Houthi stronghold in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital. Residents described the attack as devastating.

"The explosions were violent and shook the neighborhood like an earthquake. They terrified our women and children," said Abdullah Yahia, a local resident.

Additional strikes targeted Houthi military installations in the southwestern city of Taiz. In Saada, a power station in the town of Dahyan was struck, leading to widespread power outages. The town is known as a key meeting site for Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthi movement.

The Houthis denounced the attacks as a “war crime” and vowed retaliation.

“Our Yemeni armed forces are fully prepared to respond to escalation with escalation,” the group said in a statement.

Escalating U.S.-Iran Tensions

The ongoing military campaign coincides with escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran. The Trump administration has increased economic sanctions on Tehran in an effort to pressure it into nuclear negotiations. However, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected a recent diplomatic overture from Trump, refusing to engage in talks.

Despite Tehran’s claims that its nuclear ambitions are peaceful, the U.N. nuclear watchdog has warned that Iran is rapidly enriching uranium to 60% purity—just below the 90% threshold needed for weapons development.

Wider Geopolitical Ramifications

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio briefed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on the strikes, signaling a broader diplomatic effort to manage tensions. Russia, a key Iranian ally, has relied heavily on Iranian-supplied drones and missiles in its ongoing war in Ukraine.

The Houthis, meanwhile, have announced plans to resume attacks on Israeli vessels transiting through the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden, despite a brief pause following the January ceasefire in Gaza.

With military operations now underway, the coming weeks could witness further escalation in the Middle East, raising concerns over wider regional instability and the potential for prolonged conflict.